A grateful police officer who underwent a gruelling eight-hour operation on his brain has returned to Queen’s Hospital to thank the staff who saved his life.

Det Con Chris Rose had surgery to remove a large blood clot from his brain stem in 2007 - and is now finally back to full fitness.

Chris – based at Bethnal Green police station – was all smiles this week he met the surgeons, nurses and therapists who cared for him.

The 35-year-old said: “The operation was a huge success and I am extremely grateful. I feel like I won the Lottery, and I know that I am a very lucky man.”

An MRI scan at Queen’s discovered a brain haemorrhage, after Chris began complaining of headaches and a loss of co-ordination.

After emergency surgery, he spent two weeks in hospital, in Rom Valley Way, before moving to a rehabilitation unit.

“After the operation I couldn’t walk or speak properly,” said Chris. “It was a scary and harrowing time for me and my family.

“I never anticipated or appreciated what the effects of such a major operation would be, and the impact it would have on us all. It was a long, long road back to recovery.”

Four years on, Chris is back to work full-time, and has also joined the CID department.

“I have also started running again, which I never thought I would be able to do,” he said.

“Being back at Queen’s and seeing everyone again is bringing back so many memories. I can’t thank everybody enough for what they did for me.”